Bradford League Cricket: Bradford & Bingley are now favourites to win the Bradford League First Division championship after the weather played a decisive part in this rain affected season.

While leaders Bingley enjoyed a comfortable seven wicket win over third placed Farsley at Wagon Lane, second placed Baildon were frustrated by the weather at Pudsey Congs and had to settle for a one point draw.

This means Bingley hold a five point lead with two matches to play and the clubs meet at Jenny Lane in the last match of the season next Sunday in what could be the title decider.

Both sides started the day level on points with Bingley top because they had won more matches.

Paceman David Pennett took five wickets as Farsley were bowled out for 145, Australian Damien Shanahan dominating the innings with 80.

Although Bingley lost openers Gareth Batty and Martin South for 40, they had few problems after that with Craig Cockshott leading them to victory with an unbeaten 55 with more than six overs to spare.

Baildon, who restricted Congs to 165 for five in their 50 overs, had made a good start in their victory quest with 45 for none off 15 overs when there was an hour's break for rain.

That cost them a vital 20 overs and with the victory task beyond them they finished on 124 for seven in 30 overs with opener Steve Harrison top scoring with 51.

Elsewhere in the First Division Adrian Rooke produced a fine display for pace bowling to take seven for 28 in 18 overs as Pudsey St Lawrence beat Windhill by 33 runs. Pudsey scored only 109, but bowled Windhill out for a mere 76.

Opener Steve Bartle was also in good form, scoring an unbeaten 84 as Hanging Heaton beat East Bierley by four wickets after chasing Bierley's 170 for nine.

The big match in the Second Division ended with leaders Cleckheaton beating second placed Brighouse by 50 runs to make them favourites for the championship. They are now seven points ahead with two matches to play.

Cleckheaton were all out for 165, Mohamad Sohail taking six for 71, but Brighouse struggled to 115 in replay with Adam Swallow and James Stansfield each taking four wickets.

Third placed Idle had a nine wicket win over bottom club Great Horton. Ian Dewhurst took six for 13 as Horton were bowled out for 56 in 22.4 overs.

But Bankfoot remained level on points with them after beating Keighley at Lawkholme by five wickets. They had an outstanding bowling performance by Simon Kay, who took seven for 40 in 25 overs as the home side were bowled out for 98 runs.

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